A 24-day traffic-enforcement blitz led to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department issuing 338 traffic citations and making 17 arrests. About 230 police agencies increased patrols across Indiana for aggressive and impaired driving.

The overtime traffic enforcement is funded through National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.

“As temperatures rise, so do crashes involving impaired and aggressive driving,” said Sheriff Matt Myers. “If you venture out to watch the NCAA Tournament, ride your motorcycle or take your kids on spring break, watch for bikes and pedestrians and make sure your plans include a sober, defensive driver.”

Columbus residents are invited to bring their dogs to a late celebration of Mardi Gras to benefit Columbus Animal Care Services.

City officials say “Mardi Growl” is an inaugural event co-sponsored by the newly formed Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services along with their partner agency, Columbus Animal Care Services. The event is described as a “festive dog parade.” It is set for Sunday, April 7th beginning at 1 p.m. at the Cummins parking lot at Eighth and Brown Streets.

The minimum cost of the Mardi Growl is $15 for a single dog registered by April 5th. All additional dogs are $10. Day of registration will be $20.
Additional information and links to online registration and a printable registration form are available by visiting columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services.

Columbus has been named one of the best small cities for business in America for 2019. ChamberofCommerce.org has published a study ranking Columbus third on the list.

Variables considered in the ranking include personal income per capita, cost of living and unemployment rate, among others.

They called Columbus a quirky, Midwestern city, and cited the low unemployment, the percentage of young people with a bachelor’s degree, and the number of mid-sized firms. They also praised the city’s livability calling it “a peaceful city surrounded by dazzling architecture.”

Top 10 Small Cities for Small Business in 2019

1. Fargo, North Dakota
2. Billings, Montana
3. Columbus, Indiana
4. Bismarck, North Dakota
5. Rochester, Minnesota
6. La Crosse, Wisconsin
7. Midland, Texas
8. Lake Charles, Louisiana
9. Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana
10. Appleton, Wisconsin

This list continues onward to include a total of 164 American cities with populations below 250,000. You can find the complete list here: chamberofcommerce.org/best-small-cities-for-business/.

The Jennings County Clerk’s Office is looking for a new poling location for this year’s city elections. Shawn Gerkin, North Vernon’s clerk-treasurer, explained to city council Monday night that the usual poling location at the Bethel Baptist Church on Norris Avenue is unavailable for the 2019 primary and general elections.

Specifically, county officials inquired about using the Carnegie Government Center in the 100 block of East Walnut Street. Councilwoman Connie Rayburn expressed concerns with the request. Citing issues with accessibility, she said the site doesn’t have adequate parking. Rayburn is also worried about how the extra foot-traffic will impact the work of city employees inside the building.

Councilman Jerry Lamb echoed Rayburn’s concerns, but ultimately moved to make the building available for the May primary if a few remaining options are exhausted. He added that it only makes sense that a government office be utilized for such a need. Lamb suggested that the request for the general election can be revisited later in the year after the primary.

Council voted 3-1 to approve the request.

Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers swore in three new deputies yesterday, Mark Helms, Joseph Pugh and Grant Carlson.

Because all three have already completed their law enforcement training, they will be able to quickly move to work in the Road Patrol Division, after a field training phase with an experienced deputy, the sheriff said.

The 58-year-old Helms is a retired State Police trooper. The 28-year-old Pugh previously served with the Evansville Police Department.

Carlson is 21 and graduated with honors from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 110th annual meeting on Thursday.

Cindy Frey, president of the chamber Frey says that the event is both a celebration of the past year in local business, but also a call to action to make things better.

She explains that this year’s keynote speaker is John McDonald, CEO of ClearObject. The company helps others connect their products to the Internet of Things. He will be talking about what this new technology means for you and your organization.

McDonald’s company is based in Fishers and Frey said that community has been very successful in helping grow local entrepreneurship.

The event will also feature the presentation of several annual awards including the Edna Folger award for outstanding educator and the Maverick Challenge award, which goes to a local high school team of young entrepreneurs.

The lunch meeting is Thursday, March 28th from 1130 to 1:30 at The Commons. You can buy tickets at columbusareacchamber.com

The City of Columbus and Columbus Municipal Airport have announced that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds flight demonstration team will be headlining the “Birds & Brews” event on September 18th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

City officials say Birds & Brews will replace Columbus Aviation Day for 2019, which is traditionally held in June. Organizers say this will be the first time the Canadian Forces Snowbirds have ever been in central Indiana. This event is free and the public is invited to attend.

In addition to the Snowbirds, Birds & Brews will also offer a beer garden. In celebration of this event, Zwanzigz Brewery of Columbus will be creating a one-of-a-kind Canadian brew only available at the event.

There are also scheduled to be food vendors, a U.S. military flight demonstration and parachute jump, children’s educational activities and a Hot Air Balloon Glow.

North Vernon Police arrested a local man over the weekend for Military Desertion. At about 12:20 p.m. Saturday, officers conducted a traffic stop on Buckeye Street. During the stop, officers learned that 37-year-old Scott Burton, of North Vernon, was wanted on the warrant, out of Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Military officials say Burton went AWOL more than 14 years ago.

A man accused of shoplifting alcohol at a Columbus Walmart was also allegedly carrying a handgun when police chased after him.

Columbus police report that the incident happened Thursday evening when officers were called to the shoplifting report at the east side Walmart. Police say that 32-year-old Stephen A. Banks, of Indianapolis, was carrying a silver handgun when police confronted him, and as he ran away he dropped the weapon.

Officers found the .45 caliber pistol was loaded and had a round chambered. A search allegedly revealed Banks was carrying heroin in his clothing.

Banks is facing preliminary charges of Resisting Law Enforcement with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of Heroin, Possession of a Handgun by a Serious Violent Felon and Theft.

A Crothersville woman has been arrested, after admitting she was hiding drugs in her body.

The incident started at about 12:40 a.m. Friday morning when Columbus police stopped a speeding vehicle at State Road 11 and Jonathan Moore Pike. A police dog alerted to the odor of drugs inside the vehicle and police determined that a passenger, 38-year-old Amanda D. Spencer was in violation of her parole.

Police suspected she was hiding drugs and she was taken to Johnson County Jail to have a body scan done, when she allegedly admitted she was carrying narcotics in a body cavity. A search at Columbus Regional Hospital allegedly discovered she was carrying heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. .

In addition to the probation violation, she is also being charged with dealing heroin, and possessing heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and a controlled substance.